Lifting truck, particularly adapted for cylindrical containers

ABSTRACT

A lifting truck, particularly adapted for lifting cylindrical containers, more especially water bottles. The truck has a frame and a circular lift platform adapted to receive and hold a water bottle. Associated with the frame is an upright forming channels for an endless chain having attachment to the platform for lifting the bottle. The platform has attachment to the chain, allowing it to be tilted at the upper end of travel to facilitate tilting the bottle and moving it into an inverted position on the top of a water cooler.

United States Patent [191 1111 3,868,033

Le Duff Feb. 25, 1975 [54] LIFTING TRUCK, PARTICULARLY 3,024,928 3/1962 Freaney 214/302 3,136,436 6/1964 Erlinder et a1 214/302 CYLINDRICAL 3,367,321 2/1968 Bridell 214/313 3,765,554 10/1973 Morrison 214/302 Henry Antoine Le Duff, 441 l Eleventh Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90043 Filed: June 14, 1973 Appl. No.: 369,794

Inventor:

U.S. c1. 214/707, 214/313 1111. c1. B65g 65/04 Field of Search 214/302, 303, 312, 313, 214/314, 315, 317, 318,700, 705,706, 707, 214/711-715, 127

, References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1903 Stelter 214/302 11/1953 Collins 214/707 4/1957 Girotti 214/707 Primary Examiner- Robert .1. Spar Assistant ExaminerLawrcnce J. Orcsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Herzig & Walsh [57] ABSTRACT A lifting truck, particularly adapted for lifting cylindrical containers, more especially water bottles. The truck has a frame and a circular lift platform adapted to receive and hold a water bottle. Associated with the frame is an upright forming channels for an endless chain having attachment to the platform for lifting the bottle. The platform has attachment to the chain, allowing it to be tilted at the upper end of travel to facilitate tilting the bottle and moving it into an inverted position on the top of a water cooler.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LIFTING TRUCK, PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION having a neck with stopper. Water coolers typically in use have a tank at the top with a top opening of a size to support the top shoulders of the bottle in an inverted position with the neck of the bottle in the opening of the cooler.

Full bottles of water are relatively heavy. It is difficult to move and transport them to the cooler, and it is particularly difficult to lift them, invert them, and replace them in position on the cooler. In lifting the bottles, inverting them, and positioning them on the cooler, it is customary to grasp the bottles by the neck with one hand. Because of the weight of the bottle and the leverages involved in inverting the bottles, stresses imposed are such that at times, the neck of the bottle breaks off. This may happen suddenly with the result that a part of the lifters hand or arm comes in contact with jagged edges of broken glass, causing serious injury. Thus, there is clearly a hazard involved in handling bottles as described.

The primary object of the invention is to provide handling means in the form of a lifting truck, particularly adapted for transporting and moving water bottles as described, lifting them, and facilitating the inverting of the bottle, and positioning it on the cooler. The invention is adapted for use with other cylindrical containers, but the particular adaptation (exemplary embodiment) as described herein has to do with the handling of the water bottles.

In the preferred form of the invention, the lifting truck has an upright frame mounted on wheels and a round or circular lifting platform. The truck has an upright column, providing channels for an endless motor driven chain. The bottle supporting platform is pivotally attached to the endless chain so that it can be lifted by power means and then tilted over so that it can be inverted and positioned in the inverted position in or over the cooler. Further objects reside in providing the construction of the truck with a single endless chain and with the attachment to the lifting platform to facilitate the desired movements of the bottle or other article being lifted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and additional advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view showing the attachment of the lifting platform to the endless chain;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the lifting truck of the invention illustrating its utilization with a water bottle;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the lifting truck;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a detail view taken along 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, the truck comprises a base platform 10 having two side uprights l2 and 14 which may be of tubular construction and which are positioned slightly back from the front of base platform 10. The front of platform 10 is bevelled at 16. Attached to uprights l2 and 14 are frame members 20 and 22 which support journal bearings as designated at 24 and 26 for a transverse shaft 30 on which are journalled truck wheels 32 and 34. An angular brace 35 is provided between uprights 12 and 14. The upper ends of columns 12 and 14 are connected by a rearwardly and downwardly curved cross member 36.

At the rear of platform 10 and midway between upright columns 12 and 14, is column or upright 40 having front facing channel 42 and rear facing channel 44. These channels form guides for a continuous or endless chain 50.

Column 40 is constructed at the upper end as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Small sprocket wheel 52 is mounted on shaft 54 which is journalled in bores formed in the sides of the upper end of column 40. C01- umn 40 has boss 56 adjacent one end of shaft 54 and on the opposite side has an extending part 58 forming a recess 60 in which is gear 62 on the other end of shaft 54 and meshing with another gear 64 on shaft 66, one end of which is seated in recess 68 formed in the side of column 40 and which is also journalled in a cover plate 70 which covers recess 60. The shaft 66 is driven by a motor 72 mounted on an arcuate platform 74 that is suitably attached to the upright columns 12 and 14. Cross member 36 is just behind the upper end of column or upright 40.

Supported by column 40 is a switch having a switch arm 82 with a roller on the end which can be actuated by a projection or finger 84 carried by endless chain 50. Switch 80 controls motor 72 in a circuit to stop it when the lifting platform has been lifted to the correct height, as will be described.

Numeral 88 designates a circular or lifting platform, edge 90 of which is bevelled, correspondingly to bevel 16 at the front of base platform 10. At one side of platform 88, is an upright member 92, and at the other side is a longer upright member 94. Numeral 96 designates a strap attached to the upper part of upright 92. At the upper end of upright 94, there is an inwardly extending bracket part 100, at the end of which is the pivoted split circular holding member 102 having a side opening as shown, into which the neck of the bottle can be inserted when it is placed on platform 88. Numeral 104 designates a strap attached to upright 94 which can be buckled to strap 96 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 for securely holding the bottle while it is being lifted.

Numeral designates a channel-shaped shoe member, the channel of which is of a size to have the column 40 engage in it, the lower end of the shoe member being secured to and integral with the lifting platform 88. The channel-shaped shoe member 110 is pivotally linked to the endless chain 50 by way of links to allow pivotal movement of shoe 110 and platform 88 relative to the endless chain. Shoe 110 is linked to endless chain 50 by link members 112 and 114 and appropriate pivot pins shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, flexible cushioning member 120 is attached to the upper. end ofcolumn 40 in a position as shown. This is a piece of flexible metal bent into a U shape.

FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred mode of utilization or practicing of the invention. The water bottle is placed on platform 88 and secured by buckling straps 96 and 104, with the neck of the bottle inholding member 102. Motor 72 is then energized by actuating push button switch 115 which causes sprocket wheel 52 to be driven so as to operate the endless chain in its guides to lift shoe 110 and platform 88 with the bottle upwardly into position as shown in FIG. 3. Near or at the top position, straps 96 and 104 are unbuckled, the flexible holding member 102 being then disengaged from the neck of the bottle. Motor 72 is then again operated while the bottle is being manually steadied so the end less chain pulls shoe 110 along with platform 88 and the bottle up as illustrated in FIG. 3 so the bottle can betilted over on to curved cross member 36 between uprights l2 and 14 and rested on cushion member 120. The completion of the positioning of the bottle in inverted position on cooler 122 then can be done by hand. If desired, the motor can be used to tilt platform 88 into a tilted position as illustrated in FIG. 3. Switch 80 is a limit switch positioned to be actuated to automatically shut off the motor to prevent the endless chain from moving shoe 110 and platform 88 too far. After the bottle has been positioned, manual switch 115 can be operated to reverse the motor to return the parts into position as shown in FIG. I.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will readily understand the nature of the construction of the invention and the manner of its utilization. Those skilled in the art will also readily appreciate the manner in which all of the objects as set forth in the foregoing are realized, along with many additional advantages which are apparent from the detailed description. The truck is of simple and rugged construction, not requiring maintenance, being of very great utility and eliminating the need for manual lifting and positioning of heavy containers, such as water bottles. It provides a significant safety factor, avoiding possible breakdown of the bottles, more particularly necks shearing off as described in the foregoing.

The foregoing disclosure is representative of a preferred form of the invention and is to be interpreted in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense, the invention to be accorded the full scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a lifting truck, particularly adapted for lilfting cylindrical containers comprising, in combination:

a frame having a base platform and upright side column members and a further upright member for guiding an endless chain, the platform and upright side members being configurated to receive a cylindrical container;

an endless chain associated with and guided by the upright guide member;

a container lifting platform carrying a shoe member having hinged attachment to the endless chain by pivotal attachment of the shoe member to the chain at a point spaced from the platform whereby at the upper end of travel of the chain the shoe and lifting platform will tilt the container laterally to facilitate its removal and repositioning; I

cushioning means supported at the top of said upright on said lifting platform in position to be lowered after the bottle is in place on the lifting platform into a position for engagement with the neck of the bottle, said arm having an opening defined therein for engaging the neck of the bottle and into which the neck of the bottle may be inserted; and

controllable drive means for the endless chain whereby the lifting platform supporting the container may be lifted to a position at the upper ends of the upright side column members at which position the container can be tilted sideways and positioned for dispensing therefrom.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the supporting platform for the cylindrical container is circular.

3. An article as in claim 1, including an arcuate cross member between the side members positioned whereby to support the cylindrical container when tilted sideways. I

4. An article as in claim 1, wherein said guide means for the endless chain comprises means forming two U- shaped channels back to back, one having a reach of chain in it moving it in the upward direction and the other having in it a reach of chain moving downwardly.

5. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said arm has a split-ring type holding member formed on its end which defines the opening for engaging the neck of the bottle.

6. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means includes strap means for strapping the bottle on said lifting platform while it is being lifted.

7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said controllable drive means includes limit switch means operable to de-energize it whenever the lifting platform reaches selected positions.

8. A truck for transporting, lifting and then positioning a container having a relatively narrow neck portion in an elevated substantially lateral position, comprising:

frame structure mounted on wheels for being moved from one location to another;

lifting platform means mounted on said frame structure for supporting a container positioned to rest on said lifting platform means, said lifting platform meansbeing selectively operable to raise in a substantially vertical direction supported container from a lower vertical extending position to an upper substantially laterally extending position; an

stabilizing means carried by said lifting platform means for holding the container stably on said plat-. form means during movement between said lower and said upper positions, said stabilizing means including an arm pivotally mounted on said lifting platform means in position to be pivoted intoengagement around the upwardly extending side sur-.

face of the narrow neck portion of a container positioned on said lifting platform means.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said arm has a split-ring type holding member formed on its end which defines an opening for engaging the narrow neck portion of a container. 

1. As an article of manufacture, a lifting truck, particularly adapted for lilfting cylindrical containers comprising, in combination: a frame having a base platform and upright side column members and a further upright member for guiding an endless chain, the platform and upright side members being configurated to receive a cylindrical container; an endless chain associated with and guided by the upright guide member; a container lifting platform carrying a shoe member having hinged attachment to the endless chain by pivotal attachment of the shoe member to the chain at a point spaced from the platform whereby at the upper end of travel of the chain the shoe and lifting platform will tilt the container laterally to facilitate its removal and repositioning; cushioning means supported at the top of said upright member positioned to have the container rested thereon when tilted sideways during removal from the truck; stabilizing means carried by said lifting platform for holding the container in position while being lifted, said stabilizing means including means adapted for engaging and holding a narrow neck of a bottle type container, said means for engaging and holding the bottle neck being an arm pivotally mounted on said lifting platform in position to be lowered after the bottle is in place on the lifting platform into a position for engagement with the neck of the bottle, said arm having an opening defined therein for engaging the neck of the bottle and into which the neck of the bottle may be inserted; and controllable drive means for the endless chain whereby the lifting platForm supporting the container may be lifted to a position at the upper ends of the upright side column members at which position the container can be tilted sideways and positioned for dispensing therefrom.
 2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the supporting platform for the cylindrical container is circular.
 3. An article as in claim 1, including an arcuate cross member between the side members positioned whereby to support the cylindrical container when tilted sideways.
 4. An article as in claim 1, wherein said guide means for the endless chain comprises means forming two U-shaped channels back to back, one having a reach of chain in it moving it in the upward direction and the other having in it a reach of chain moving downwardly.
 5. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said arm has a split-ring type holding member formed on its end which defines the opening for engaging the neck of the bottle.
 6. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means includes strap means for strapping the bottle on said lifting platform while it is being lifted.
 7. The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said controllable drive means includes limit switch means operable to de-energize it whenever the lifting platform reaches selected positions.
 8. A truck for transporting, lifting and then positioning a container having a relatively narrow neck portion in an elevated substantially lateral position, comprising: frame structure mounted on wheels for being moved from one location to another; lifting platform means mounted on said frame structure for supporting a container positioned to rest on said lifting platform means, said lifting platform means being selectively operable to raise in a substantially vertical direction supported container from a lower vertical extending position to an upper substantially laterally extending position; and stabilizing means carried by said lifting platform means for holding the container stably on said platform means during movement between said lower and said upper positions, said stabilizing means including an arm pivotally mounted on said lifting platform means in position to be pivoted into engagement around the upwardly extending side surface of the narrow neck portion of a container positioned on said lifting platform means.
 9. The invention defined in claim 8, wherein said arm has a split-ring type holding member formed on its end which defines an opening for engaging the narrow neck portion of a container. 